County Tries For Slice Of Grant Pie

The Community Development Block Grant Is Federal Money That Could Be Worth Up To $650,000 That Will Be Used For Housing Needs Of Osceola's Poor. County Tries For Slice Of Grant Pie

December 7, 1991|By Edwin Salazar Of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — For years, Anna Pinellas has had to tell poor residents who called for help that the county had no money to keep their houses from falling apart.

''They call me and say, 'I need some work on my house and I'm in this income category. Are there any programs to help?' '' said Pinellas, Osceola County's grants and housing administrator. ''Our answer to this point has been no. Now, it will be yes.''

It will be yes, that is, if Osceola wins the federal grant it plans to apply for early next year. Pinellas said Friday the Community Development Block Grant could be worth up to $650,000. The grant is federal money, distributed by the state.

The state Department of Community Affairs will award the grants late next spring or early summer. Osceola County, which is preparing its application with the help of Palatka consultant Fred Fox Enterprises, will compete with local governments throughout the state. Counties with the greatest need get priority.

Pinellas, also a member of Florida's Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Advisory Council, said she is confident Osceola will be a strong contender.

She is recommending the county focus on repairing housing, although the money also could be used to renovate neighborhoods.

Pinellas was not sure how many of the county's 107,000 residents might benefit from the grant because she said Osceola has not kept track of how many low-income residents it has.

They have gone, for the most part, unnoticed until recently, when the county's growth has begun to push new houses into areas adjacent to poverty-stricken ones.

''We don't have statistics, we don't have figures, and we don't know where they (the poor) are,'' Pinellas said.

Pinellas said she is sure of one thing: The need is ''significant.'' Social-service agencies keep reminding her of that.

She knows many Osceola residents have low enough incomes to qualify for help. For example, the federal rental-assistance program in Kissimmee has more than 250 people on a waiting list.

To qualify for that program, residents living alone must have an annual income of less than $13,600; a couple of less than $15,550; a family of four, less than $19,450.

A county appointed task force will recommend how the grant money would be spent after a Dec. 18 public hearing in County Commission chambers at 7 p.m. Its recommendation will be presented at a second public hearing. The commission must approve the details of the grant application.

Residents interested in learning about the program can call 847-1297 for information.